Great Manchester Run: Mo Farah meeting boosts family runners

Multiple global gold medallist makes surprise visit ahead of the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run Family Challenge

Meeting a 10-time global gold medallist isn’t a bad way to prepare for an event and two families recently received a boost ahead of the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run Family Challenge in the way of a surprise visit from Mo Farah.

The four-time Olympic and six-time world champion will be racing the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run on May 20 and was on hand to share some training advice with the Parry and Wilkinson families.

The Family Challenge was launched to give families a goal to help improve their health and wellbeing in 2018 by training for and taking part in the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run events, which includes a half-marathon and 10km, plus Junior and Mini events.

“It was nice to meet the families today, advising them in terms of training and other things,” said Farah, who is now focused on road racing after his successes on the track.

“It’s really important to keep active as a family and I try to encourage my family to be active.

“Even my daughter, I try to encourage her to be active every day, or do some sort of exercise like swimming or other stuff.

“It just keeps your mind active.”

Sara Parry said: “To meet Mo Farah was absolutely amazing, you could say it was a once in a lifetime experience.

“He is such a positive and motivating person and genuinely kind. The children are still in ‘awe’ at meeting such a great role model for fitness, family and fun.”

The Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run welcomes people of all ages and abilities to a running celebration in the heart of the city centre. The course goes past Old Trafford, the Imperial War Museum and the Lowry before heading back to the spectator packed finish line in the shadow of Beetham Tower on Deansgate.

The Simplyhealth Mini and Junior Great Manchester Run takes place on the same day as the adult event so young runners and budding athletes can experience the buzz and even share the same start line as their mums and dads.

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